Legal trouble has brewed for Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi following a formal police complaint lodged against her in Karnataka over an alleged incident during an Independence Day program. The complaint, submitted at the Urwa Police Station in Mangaluru, accuses the senior Congress leader of showing disrespect to the national song 'Vande Mataram' and insisting on halting its performance midway during a flag hoisting ceremony conducted at the Congress headquarters in Delhi on August 15. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vikas Puttur arrived at the police station accompanied by party workers to deliver the written complaint.
Written Complaint Filed at Urwa Police Station in Mangaluru
In his submission to the Urwa police, BJP leader Vikas Puttur detailed the events broadcast live from the Congress office during the August 15 celebrations. He alleged that while 'Vande Mataram' was being performed in accordance with established national protocol, Sonia Gandhi interrupted the rendition and pressed for it to be stopped immediately. According to the complainant, the act demonstrated explicit disregard for the national song while it was being presented on a live public broadcast watched across the country.
Allegations of Protocol Violation and Disrespect During National Song
Emphasizing the severity of the alleged disruption during a solemn national occasion, Vikas Puttur asserted that the action could not be treated as a casual oversight. In his statement to the press and police, he stated, "It appears to be a deliberate act intended to breach peace and constitutes an insult to our nation's national song." He urged the police to initiate immediate and strict legal proceedings against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi without yielding to external influence.
Demand for Action Under Insult to National Honour Act and BNS Sections
The written complaint formally invoked key statutory provisions, alleging that the act constitutes a punishable offense under Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. Furthermore, Vikas Puttur requested law enforcement authorities to register the case under Sections 195 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He specifically appealed to the police department to ensure that the investigation remains entirely impartial and free from any political interference.
Warning of High Court Approach and Historical Significance of Vande Mataram
Issuing a clear ultimatum, Vikas Puttur warned that if the police fail to register a formal FIR based on his complaint, he will proceed to file a private complaint before the High Court. Highlighting the cultural and historical legacy of the national song, the complaint noted that 'Vande Mataram' was penned in 1896 by freedom fighter Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and served as a powerful rallying cry throughout India's independence movement. Asserting that 'Vande Mataram' holds an equal status of honor and respect alongside the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana', the complainant emphasized that every Indian citizen carries a fundamental responsibility to safeguard its dignity.
